If you haven't read the Harry Potter series we highly recommend you read the books. Our Grandpa Sandy introduced them to to us, so they are not just for kids people, get on it. Harry Potter was required reading in one of Jen's college classes (money well spent) to this day no book series has come close to the awesomeness that is Harry Potter.
The studio tour lead us into the great hall first with its York stone floors and well worn tables and gigantic fireplace, the only thing missing was the enchanted ceiling (CG magic there). It was still grand and it was hard to keep from grinning once we were inside. There were costumes for every house and your favorite Hogwarts teachers as well. Jen could have stayed here all day but they push you out into the main exhibit pretty quickly. The rest of the exhibit focuses on the amazing art department, special/visual effects team, makeup and costume departments. Yes, that's right we saw Harry Potter's lighting bolt scar, Draco's wig and Hermione's awesome wardrobe, including that really pretty dress from the Yule Ball. We also saw creepy "baby" Lord Voldermort, deceased Dobby, Diagon Alley, the kitchen of the Burrow and so much more.
Gryffindor common room was just as you imagined and felt like its does when watching the films, warm and inviting. Side note: the fireplace is so big there is actually a bench inside so if you're really freezing, which I'm sure you would be in a castle that size, the fireplace would be the place to be.
Green screen was used a lot...A LOT. We never appreciated the amount until we visited the sets today, the amount of post work required after filming wraps is incredible. The scaled "small" castle alone would take 72 years to build if one person put in the man hours used to construct it. As it stands today it took 40 people 7 months to construct.
If you're a Harry Potter fan this is a must see, if you're not, it's still a must see because you'll still be able to appreciate the sheer talent and vision of those that made these movies possible. The details in every item big or small is in one word, impressive. Photos do not do it justice but they're still pretty good.
The Great Hall.
Jen before they kicked her out of the great hall.
Forced perspective model of the Leaky Cauldron hallway.
The Black Family tapestry.
The Boy's dormitory.
Gryffindor Common room.
Dumbledore's Office Entrance.
His office was awesome! The details and little knick-knacks. You can feel the amount of work that goes into each room.
The Pensieve.
Potion's class
Fang stand-in.
Hagrid's hut.
The Burrow.
Nasty Dolores Umbridge's office
The Kitty wall
Jen in the Ministry........or bits of it anyway.
On the Hogwart's bridge
Jen in front of 4 Privet Drive.
Brian with a butter-beer in front of Harry's house.
Butter-beer mustache and a ginger beard.
Luckily there were no spiders about.
Gringott's Bank
Diagon Alley
The Hogwart's model. It took 7 months and 40 people to build this.
Here's Brain for scale.
A serious amount of wands.
And last but not least we journeyed to Holland Park to take a look at Jean & Lionel's front door from As Time Goes By. It was a nice quiet street with a small community garden opposite the house.
As Time Goes By House
I wonder if these poor homeowners hate people like us. In case they do I stayed off the porch.
A rainbow of pastel houses in Kensington.
Why can't our bags be freezers as well? We walked away slowly with our
heads bowed down.
Our final dinner before we head home tomorrow. Yorkshire pudding how we love thee, although our Gramma Squeak's version has yet to be beat.
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